I saw whitley in a Step Show with Kim, Freddie, and Jaleesa and some other girls and I just couldn't believe the Whitley was stepping. Does anyone agree that the Stepping thing was an odd activity for Whitley?

I saw whitley in a Step Show with Kim, Freddie, and Jaleesa and some other girls and I just couldn't believe the Whitley was stepping. Does anyone agree that the Stepping thing was an odd activity for Whitley?

Yeah, that was a little odd for the ice queen but I loved the step number.

Yes it was odd.

I didn't find it odd since stepping is a big thing in black Colleges then and now.

I didn't find it odd since stepping is a big thing in black Colleges then and now.

That's not the issue...it's just that Whitley was trained in ballet and tap and classical things. In one episode she can't do the current dances like the Roger Rabbit (she looks like Elaine from "Seinfeld" when she does), but all of a sudden can do steps? Huh. That's inconsistent.

That's not the issue...it's just that Whitley was trained in ballet and tap and classical things. In one episode she can't do the current dances like the Roger Rabbit (she looks like Elaine from "Seinfeld" when she does), but all of a sudden can do steps? Huh. That's inconsistent.
I agree. It was something out of character for Whitley. That would be like Freddie being able to do ballet or tap. Just because one goes to a black college, doesn't mean they can do stepping.

I agree. It was something out of character for Whitley. That would be like Freddie being able to do ballet or tap. Just because one goes to a black college, doesn't mean they can do stepping.

Pretty much, it was totally out of her character, this is the same woman who didn't want Heavy D performing at the school.

I'm part black and I can't dance to save my life!

Pretty much, it was totally out of her character, this is the same woman who didn't want Heavy D performing at the school.

I'm part black and I can't dance to save my life!
cute! :rofl:

Pretty much, it was totally out of her character, this is the same woman who didn't want Heavy D performing at the school.

I'm part black and I can't dance to save my life!


Haven't seen that ep yet, I look forward to it

That's not the issue...it's just that Whitley was trained in ballet and tap and classical things. In one episode she can't do the current dances like the Roger Rabbit (she looks like Elaine from "Seinfeld" when she does), but all of a sudden can do steps? Huh. That's inconsistent.


Stepping has nothing to do with Ballet or Tap. Whitely was in a Sorority so I think naturally she was be into stepping also. If you can Tap you can Step. I'm half black and my white side had nothing at all to do with me Stepping when I was in College.

I saw nothing weird about Whitley's stepping. She was the one that coreographed the routine. In season two, Debbie Allen teased out the Whitley character. There is definitely a difference in Whitley's character in seasons one and two. Whitley being able to step is not that far fetched. The fact that she said in season one that she studied ballet, tap and jazz probably did help lead up to her being able to coreoghraph the step show and the routine for the Gladys Knight episode. BTW, Sharon Brown was awesome in that episode. I still laugh when she starts singing with soul and leaving Jaleesa and Whitley stunned.

I saw nothing weird about Whitley's stepping. She was the one that coreographed the routine. In season two, Debbie Allen teased out the Whitley character. There is definitely a difference in Whitley's character in seasons one and two. Whitley being able to step is not that far fetched. The fact that she said in season one that she studied ballet, tap and jazz probably did help lead up to her being able to coreoghraph the step show and the routine for the Gladys Knight episode. BTW, Sharon Brown was awesome in that episode. I still laugh when she starts singing with soul and leaving Jaleesa and Whitley stunned.


I TOTALLY AGREE!!!

In my eyes, having seen ADW so many times, I see Whitley as this certain character. Her mother (Diahann Carroll) was always telling Whitley what was good and what was bad for her daughter. I can almost see her telling Whitley that "Ballet and Tap" are better dances for her to study as opposed to any other style of dance. Her mother had her nose up in the air and if something wasn't "classy" or "sophisticated" it wasn't good enough for Whitley.

Also around that time, she along with some other cast members from the show were in the Spike Lee movie "School Daze". Jasmine's character was in a sorority.

In my eyes, having seen ADW so many times, I see Whitley as this certain character. Her mother (Diahann Carroll) was always telling Whitley what was good and what was bad for her daughter. I can almost see her telling Whitley that "Ballet and Tap" are better dances for her to study as opposed to any other style of dance. Her mother had her nose up in the air and if something wasn't "classy" or "sophisticated" it wasn't good enough for Whitley.


In the later episodes of ADW Whitley mother changed, And being that stepping is traditional in the south, I could see her mom going along with it.

Good point Mrs. Brie. I can see Mrs. Gilbert saying, "That's my baby!"

In the later episodes of ADW Whitley mother changed, And being that stepping is traditional in the south, I could see her mom going along with it.
I don't know abt that. Her character didn't seem happy if things weren't sophisticated enough (Whitley's mom)...she was very picky and so forth. Although she was like that, I adored her character. She was funny.

I don't know abt that. Her character didn't seem happy if things weren't sophisticated enough (Whitley's mom)...she was very picky and so forth. Although she was like that, I adored her character. She was funny.

In the last season her Mom changed for the better, she even got along with Dwayne and his mom. Also Whitely's mom went to Hillman too so she was probably stepping back in her day also.

In the later episodes of ADW Whitley mother changed, And being that stepping is traditional in the south, I could see her mom going along with it.

Diahann Caroll stepping? I would PAY to see that.

Diahann Caroll stepping? I would PAY to see that.
I can't even imagine that. :lol:

referring the ADW character only...not as Diahann Carroll.

Diahann Caroll stepping? I would PAY to see that.


Did you see Claudine? she was cursing, drinking beer, Smoking, had a little nudity (Well she showed her breast) in that movie. So yeah I could see Diahann Carroll Stepping.

Did you see Claudine? she was cursing, drinking beer, Smoking, had a little nudity (Well she showed her breast) in that movie. So yeah I could see Diahann Carroll Stepping.

I haven't seen it yet. I have to borrow the movie from my dad. I can't see Diahann Carroll going "It's Miller Time" and chug-a-lugging on a bottle of beer, Cristal yes, Miller Lite, no.

Did you see Claudine? she was cursing, drinking beer, Smoking, had a little nudity (Well she showed her breast) in that movie. So yeah I could see Diahann Carroll Stepping.
I love that movie. I have it on tape.

The only difference is, when I see her on ADW, I totally see her into that character...she is so damn good as an actress that I see her as Whitley's mom...when I see Claudine, I forget she plays Whitley's mom...That is a testament to how damn good an actress she is.

I love that movie. I have it on tape.

The only difference is, when I see her on ADW, I totally see her into that character...she is so damn good as an actress that I see her as Whitley's mom...when I see Claudine, I forget she plays Whitley's mom...That is a testament to how damn good an actress she is.


Yeah that's one of my all time favorite movies, I watched it yesterday twice :lol: Curtis Mayfield did his thing with the songs in that movie.

Yeah I'm the same way when I watch Claudine, you forget that she's even Diahann Carroll LOL and even that she played Julia.

Stepping has nothing to do with Ballet or Tap. Whitely was in a Sorority so I think naturally she was be into stepping also. If you can Tap you can Step. I'm half black and my white side had nothing at all to do with me Stepping when I was in College.

I think it was inconsistent with the character...and I never ONCE said that ballet and stepping are related. I'm going to drop this...this is a petty debate that I know is futile to continue with.

In my eyes, having seen ADW so many times, I see Whitley as this certain character. Her mother (Diahann Carroll) was always telling Whitley what was good and what was bad for her daughter. I can almost see her telling Whitley that "Ballet and Tap" are better dances for her to study as opposed to any other style of dance. Her mother had her nose up in the air and if something wasn't "classy" or "sophisticated" it wasn't good enough for Whitley.

Now that's a way to look at it...that makes sense...but how come she dances like a spaz when she does the Roger Rabbit or the Running Man? :confused:

I think it was inconsistent with the character...and I never ONCE said that ballet and stepping are related. I'm going to drop this...this is a petty debate that I know is futile to continue with.



Now that's a way to look at it...that makes sense...but how come she dances like a spaz when she does the Roger Rabbit or the Running Man? :confused:
OMG, you just reminded me, when I was young, I too studied ballet and tap as well, but when it came to just "dancing" I was awful. I guess when one studies a particular style of dance, it of course comes easily after studying it and practicing. Whitley of course, could have done the same with Stepping, but like we are saying, it is out of character. Just like there are things that people don't or won't do simply because it is not something they would do, whether because they don't want to, or they see something as "not up to par" or they never bothered to learn to do something.
In my eyes, Stepping was out of character for Whitley. Just imagine what her home life was like, beauty pageants, ettiquette classes, modeling classes, dance classes, and similar things. Whitley was being prepared by her mother.

Did you see Claudine? she was cursing, drinking beer, Smoking, had a little nudity (Well she showed her breast) in that movie. So yeah I could see Diahann Carroll Stepping.


Off-topic:
Claudine :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Love that movie.

OMG, you just reminded me, when I was young, I too studied ballet and tap as well, but when it came to just "dancing" I was awful. I guess when one studies a particular style of dance, it of course comes easily after studying it and practicing. Whitley of course, could have done the same with Stepping, but like we are saying, it is out of character. Just like there are things that people don't or won't do simply because it is not something they would do, whether because they don't want to, or they see something as "not up to par" or they never bothered to learn to do something.
In my eyes, Stepping was out of character for Whitley. Just imagine what her home life was like, beauty pageants, ettiquette classes, modeling classes, dance classes, and similar things. Whitley was being prepared by her mother.



Exactly, that wasn't Whitley stepping, it was Jasmine Guy-lol

The last time that I checked, Whitley Gilbert coreographed the routine. LOL.

The last time that I checked, Whitley Gilbert coreographed the routine. LOL.
No doubt they had Whitley stepping, but for the character, IT WAS OUT OF PLACE. It would be like George Jefferson square dancing to country music.

To, me it seemed as though they were teasing Whitley out. Remember, that Whitley was under the subjection of two different producers. I will say that I think that Jasmine Guy did have some say so when Debbie Allen came abord. I think that she was able to go to the writers and bring some more depth to the Whitley character.

I still don't see how it was out of character for Whitley, All I'm saying that in the south Stepping at black Colleges is pretty much tradition. You can see people who you wouldn't think could step, Stepping. I guess since I actually stepped in College that I'm use to seeing it. If you were to look at me you wouldn't think that I was into stepping, but I am and still do it from time to time when I go to Sorority events.